The Coordinator of the Edo State Public Response Safety Team (PRST), Kelly Okungbowa, confirmed on Thursday that an officer seen in a viral video dragging the steering wheel with a bus driver in Benin has been dismissed from the agency.
The 27-second video, which surfaced online on Thursday, shows an unnamed PRST official trying to stop a vehicle by physically grabbing the steering wheel.
In the video, passengers can be heard pleading with both the driver and the PRST official, urging them to stop, as they feared for their lives. The official is heard responding that the driver was attempting to take him away.
Okungbowa apologized to the public for the officer’s conduct, stating, “First of all, I want apologise to the general public for the conduct of our officer in that viral video. There is no perfect society and the person that erred in that video has been sacked to serve as deterrent to every member of the Commission.”
He further emphasized that the PRST is not opposed to drivers, stating, “I wish to tell the drivers that we are not their enemies, but their friends. Ours is to make sure that we do what is right by ensuring that there is order in Edo State, most especially in Benin City.”
Okungbowa reiterated that the PRST’s role is to ensure traffic order and passenger safety, reminding drivers of their responsibilities: “The drivers know where they are supposed to stop, where they don’t have to stop and where to pick passengers and drop them.”
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The PRST Coordinator also expressed frustration with the ongoing conflicts between drivers and officers, adding, “We are tired of having this conflict with the drivers every time. I have been doing this job with the officers here during the previous administration. I am appealing to the public to report any erring officer to the commission. I can’t be everywhere at the same time, but I assure anyone found wanting that he or she will be dealt with.”
However, Okungbowa also condemned the bus driver’s actions, noting that while the officer’s behavior was wrong, the driver also acted inappropriately by taking the officer away from his assigned location.
“Going by what transpired on Wednesday, nobody is talking about the wrong done by the driver. He took the officer from his beat to an unknown destination. He resulted to self-help but did it in a wrong way, so we condemn his action in all ramification,” Okungbowa said.
The incident has sparked a public outcry, leading to the dismissal of the officer involved, with a reminder to both the PRST officers and the public about proper conduct and accountability.
